In the United States of America, citizens have certain rights when it comes to speech and press. We can say what we want and print what we want with no questions asked. Sadly this isn't always the case. For example, Djibouti, a small country in Africa, doesn't have these rights as simply as we do and they must fight for anything that they want connected to speech and press freedoms.
Victims of Censorship Oppression. :Djibouti is a very limited country. Their social media is always monitored. They have very little internet access.freedomhouse And they practically can’t give their opinion on a topic against the government.constitueproject
Does Freedom of Speech Really Exist? :Their freedom of speech is very limited. They have really low levels of internet access which is one reason they’re limited. Their social media is always monitored. freedomhouse A second reason is the journalist are limited, because they can’t give false information. Their laws and constitution call for freedom of speech and the press, but are not fully expressed as they should be. Journalists tend to avoid sensitive topics like, the army and human rights.
What's Happening Today? : May 30, 2008- Tensions rose between Djibouti and its neighbor Eritrea.nytimes The tension threatens Djibouti’s economic dreams. An ancient lake that for centuries the people of Djibouti have been hauling salt from, has some new company.This lake made Djibouti’s little dreams just turned huge. They were talking millions they could make from this 50 square miles of salt, to 20- 30 feet deep. Eritrea (Djibouti's neighboring country) sent soldiers to the border. They didn't seem to like the ruckus the people of Djibouti were making. The people of Djibouti believed they were jealous of the wealth they were coming into, but they didn't want to start an unnecessary war.
Are the Rules Being Followed? :Djibouti’s economy is the 118th freest.heritage With their religious freedom its generally enforced. Their religious freedom was respected, there were no changes by the government in the reporting period. In their constitution it states, “ Every person has the right to the freedom ofthought.”It also says,”Each has the right to express and to disseminate freely their opinions by word, pen, and image."constituteproject This isn't being followed because Journalist aren’t allowed to give certain thoughts. Many try to avoid certain topics so they don’t get in trouble, or even arrested. Being arrested for writing your opinion, doesn’t sound like freedom of the press or the speech
Be a Hero.:Mohamed Ibrahim was arrested August 12, 2014 in Nairobi.police He was arrested for his opposing online radio station. He’s apart of the Union Pour Le Salut National (Union for National Salvation). This union does weekly protests for the lack of basic services and democracy.The arrest was so aggressive that Mohamed was left with injuries to his eyes and back. Hodan Balbala Police Station was where they took him, where he wasnt allowed medical service.
Nytimes- Gettleman, Jeffrey. "Location Gives Tiny State Prime Access to Big Riches." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 May 2008. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
In the United States of America, citizens have certain rights when it comes to speech and press. We can say what we want and print what we want with no questions asked. Sadly this isn't always the case. For example, Djibouti, a small country in Africa, doesn't have these rights as simply as we do and they must fight for anything that they want connected to speech and press freedoms.
Victims of Censorship Oppression. : Djibouti is a very limited country. Their social media is always monitored. They have very little internet access.freedomhouse
And they practically can’t give their opinion on a topic against the government.constitueproject
Does Freedom of Speech Really Exist? : Their freedom of speech is very limited. They have really low levels of internet access which is one reason they’re limited. Their social media is always monitored. freedomhouse
A second reason is the journalist are limited, because they can’t give false information. Their laws and constitution call for freedom of speech and the press, but are not fully expressed as they should be. Journalists tend to avoid sensitive topics like, the army and human rights.
What's Happening Today? : May 30, 2008- Tensions rose between Djibouti and its neighbor Eritrea.nytimes The tension threatens Djibouti’s economic dreams. An ancient lake that for centuries the people of Djibouti have been hauling salt from, has some new company.This lake made Djibouti’s little dreams just turned huge. They were talking millions they could make from this 50 square miles of salt, to 20- 30 feet deep. Eritrea (Djibouti's neighboring country) sent soldiers to the border. They didn't seem to like the ruckus the people of Djibouti were making. The people of Djibouti believed they were jealous of the wealth they were coming into, but they didn't want to start an unnecessary war.
Are the Rules Being Followed? : Djibouti’s economy is the 118th freest.heritage
With their religious freedom its generally enforced. Their religious freedom was respected, there were no changes by the government in the reporting period. In their constitution it states, “ Every person has the right to the freedom of thought.” It also says,”Each has the right to express and to disseminate freely their opinions by word, pen, and image."constituteproject
This isn't being followed because Journalist aren’t allowed to give certain thoughts. Many try to avoid certain topics so they don’t get in trouble, or even arrested. Being arrested for writing your opinion, doesn’t sound like freedom of the press or the speech
Be a Hero.: Mohamed Ibrahim was arrested August 12, 2014 in Nairobi.police
He was arrested for his opposing online radio station. He’s apart of the Union Pour Le Salut National (Union for National Salvation). This union does weekly protests for the lack of basic services and democracy.The arrest was so aggressive that Mohamed was left with injuries to his eyes and back. Hodan Balbala Police Station was where they took him, where he wasnt allowed medical service.
Works cited:
Freedomhouse- "Djibouti." Freedom House. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Constituteproject- Anonymous. N.p.: Xlibris, 2010. Web.
Nytimes- Gettleman, Jeffrey. "Location Gives Tiny State Prime Access to Big Riches." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 May 2008. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
State- Contosak. (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
Heritage- "Djibouti." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Police- "Police Arrest Djibouti Journalist Covering Demonstration." - Committee to Protect Journalists. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
By: Ny'Ahjah Fuentes & Patrick Funk